Lord of Destiny (The Dragon Demigods #6) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,88
don’t give two fucks what West does or doesn’t want.” Maddox’s jaw tenses.
Zale’s eyes widen. “It’s time for him to face the music,” he states.
“Yes, but—” My brother starts to say.
“I’d like to speak to him first…alone?” I ask. “You can fill Zale in on the latest development.”
Maddox nods. “Sure thing, sis. Have at him.” His eyes narrow, and he grunts. “I still can’t fucking believe what he did.”
“There’s more?” Zale asks, his jaw tightening.
“A whole big chunk of more,” Barrett says, folding his arms.
“He deserves everything you give him, and probably more,” Maddox says to me as I head for the stairs.
“It’s the second door once you hit the landing!” Zale shouts after me. “What the hell happened?” I hear him ask the others.
I take the stairs two at a time because now that I’m here, I can’t wait to get this over with. I feel bogged down with the emotions churning through me.
The only door that is closed is the second one. I knock twice and then enter. West is already standing. He’s facing the wall. He turns, like I just woke him from a deep sleep. “Raven!” He smiles at me like it’s old times. “It’s so good to see you.” He walks to me, his hand is outstretched, ready to touch me…hold me… “Don’t!” I snap, looking down and then at his eyes.
They’ve turned stormy. West doesn’t say anything. I half expect him to start explaining himself.
“You made a deal with Tarek. Our location in exchange for Stephan’s life, and apparently for me.” My voice is cold and accusing.
His eyes narrow. His muscles rope, and thicken. “That fucker is feeding you bullshit again. How gullible are you, Raven?”
“Don’t even try it!” I yell at him. I can’t believe he’s denying it all. That he’s trying to turn this around. Actually, I can!
“Try what? Where did he get this information?” West shrugs.
“He had a vision. When you—”
“A vision!” West snorts. “He’s making me out to be the bad guy so that he can win the girl. It’s as simple as that. The asshole can’t even play fair,” he growls.
“Play fair!” I shout. “This isn’t a game. This is our lives we’re talking about. I’m not even going to start a conversation about how you almost killed Stephan. You can’t even begin to talk about playing fair.”
“I did not almost kill him!” He doesn’t say anything more because he knows he’s lying through his teeth.
“I can’t believe that you went to Tarek. You told him where to find us.” My throat feels clogged for a moment. I’ve known this man my whole life.
“You shouldn’t believe it, Raven.” He tries to touch me again, but I flinch away. “What has he done to you? To us?”
“You keep blaming Stephan.”
“If it wasn’t for—!” he booms.
“This has nothing to do with Stephan. I don’t want to talk to you about him. This conversation has nothing to do with him.” Why doesn’t he get that? Or any of it?
“Good!” West’s eyes sparkle. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“This conversation is about you and me.”
“Now we’re talking.” He’s animated, playing at being happy, but his eyes tell me a whole other story.
“Not us!” I point out. “There is no us.”
His face falls, and his eyes cloud. “Because of him!” he growls.
“No! Why did you go to Tarek? Why did you do it?” My eyes sting. I know why he did it, but I need him to own up to it. I need him to admit to what he did.
He groans, running a hand through his hair. “You’re back on that. It isn’t true! How do I make you believe me?”
“At this point, it’s your word against his. Good thing there’s one other person who knows the truth. I can safely say that he has no loyalty to you or anyone else. In fact, he’ll take great pleasure in telling me because he knows the truth will hurt me.”
“Who?” He looks worried. “Who are you talking about?”
“You know who…Tarek.”
I watch his eyes widen and his mouth drop open. He starts to say something and then stops.
“Tarek will—” I start to say.
“I did it for us,” he grinds out.
My heart drops. “Us? You told our crazy-in-the-head leader where to find us. You did that for us?” I sound shocked to the core. “You could have gotten all of us killed.”
“I love you, Raven.” He looks stricken. “I was desperate. I was watching that asshole steal you away. I don’t know how many times I need to